Velvet Underground Trainspotting Question

Already downloading from The Nuns site ... So weird that this stuff just keeps showing up. One thing I'm super interested in (that hasn't seen the light of day afaik) is a studio version of "Beginning to See the Light" with Cale.

But yeah, the "Beginning" with Cale is mentioned in the Unterberger book - recorded at the "Mr. Rain" session apparently? With "fuzz bass"? There was talk of it appearing on a projected WL/WH "deluxe edition, I think. Which never came out obv.

Hmmm, so I'm listening to this "Retinal Circus" VU show -- and I'm pretty sure some of these takes are the same as appear on Live 1969. Haven't a/b'd them or anything. It's an uncut tape of the show, though, which hasn't circulate as far as I know ... I think that those songs were thought to be from the Matrix, wonder what the deal is! MYSTERY. Sounds great, anyway.

Yeah, same w/ "heroin", "what goes on", "new age" so far. it's funny to hear these songs w/ audience applause -- on 1969 they cut off almost immediately, sort of giving the impression that the VU was playing to barely anyone. But here they've got a totally enthusiastic crowd. And why not, considering the godlike awesomeness of this "What Goes On."

Yeha, often when Unterberger inserts an opinion into his Velvets book, I find myself disagreeing with him. But as a reference, and as a history of the band, I think it's unparalleled. Also, tons of great photos/posters/ephemera, stuff I'd never seen before. And I appreciate that he has in fact listened to the bootlegs, which a lot of writers before him don't seem to have done. In general he doesn't seem too down with the experimental side of the group, even though he does give plenty of space to Cale's pre-VU work, as well as Angus MacLise, which is nice.

OK, so I'm familiar with the differences between the original "closet mix" of the 3rd LP and the Valentin (sp?) mix that was put out in the 80's reissue series. I know that "Some Kinda Love" is a different take altogether on the Valentin one. My trainspotter question is: which mix does the recent 4 Men With Beards reissue have? "Cause I already have an original closet one and am kicking myself for not picking the alternate mix up a few years ago when it was cheap.

I went to Kugelberg's apt once to talk about some post-punk/DIY stuff, and in this one room where he had his record collection, or small portions of it, he had all these cabinets with 12" sized panels, and in each panel was a copy of the first Velvet Underground record. Perhaps different states of peeling, different pressings, different photo states on the back, I don't remember, it was pretty impressive though.

Yeah, not sure why they haven't followed up that deluxe VU&Nico from six or seven years ago with deluxe editions of White Light and the third album ... Maybe VU&Nico didn't do that well, since it didn't have any unreleased stuff on it?

i thought these would've come out domestically by now, but i scored Japanese versions a couple/few years ago of wl/wh, s/t, 1969 live, and V.U. the only one that's not a big improvement is '69 live. both white light, and the velvet underground really sound noticeably "better"(IMO) than the mid-1990's releases. and v.u. sounds greatly improved over its original cd release

Oh, and does the V.U. one have that intro on "Foggy Notion" snipped from the CD?

I believe that this is only on the original 1985 vinyl pressing but I dunno about the new 4 Men one. It's definitely not on the '85 CD.

speaking of trainspotting, check out this alternate version of VU!

Pre-release cassette sent to radio stations contained what was to be the original version of the album, with different mixes and with Ferryboat Bill in place of Ocean (version different from the Another View one).

This 6CD thing is a revelation. I mean, all the live Matrix stuff is amazing enough, mixed crystal clear, after decades of dodgy audience recordings this is like thunder from the heavens. Complaints about the incomplete nature of this set are legit (I think there were four nights taped?), and I am resigned to all of it coming out in five years, but whatever. I just wish there was more banter besides the instant-classic intro to "I Can't Stand It" - I may have missed something my first time through, though.

On top of all that glorious live material, the individual mixing decisions on the 1969 sessions disc seem very well thought out. Guitars sound so good on the new mix of "One Of These Days', all kinds of cool things I'd never noticed. second guitar seems much more prominent on the new mix of "Lisa Says" as well. Pretty much everything sounds better than/as good as the VU/Another View versions - I think the ones that have new mixes were never properly mixed down in the first place, as opposed to the ones w/original mix acetates? It's so confusing. The new mix of "Coney Island" in particular has much better vocals w/o the effects, you can practically see a young Jonathan Richman taking notes. The original mixes suit "I'm Sticking With You" and "She's My Best Friend", the new mix of "I Can't Stand It" really brings out the guitars again, fuck this whole disc is like a new listening experience!

ha yeah, i've got the two discs, i just mean, release every second of these things. anyway, i like the new VU mixes for the most part EXCEPT Ride Into The Sun -- what is going on there? bass sounds out of whack for most of the beginning, kinda messes up the whole experience for me. i guess it's cool hearing a new mix, but it is definitely not my preferred version.

The only new VU mix that I think misses the mark is "Lisa Says." The reverb on the 1985 mix was so perfect, and reinforced a certain quality that it shared with the Pretenders' version of "Thin Line Between Love and Hate." The new mix sounds claustrophobic and insular.